1. Where can I go for support for my mental health as a parent?

    Advice and Information -

    We've pulled together a number of services for parents in need of support for their mental health. Read more to find out where you can go to get the help you need.

  2. Smoking during pregnancy - Action plan

    News -

    Our smoking in pregnancy action plan ‘accelerates’ the move to appoint new stop-smoking advisor

  3. Report on Maternity services in North Somerset

    Report -

    Healthwatch North Somerset collects information from the public about their experiences of local health and social care services. This information is shared with service providers, local commissioners and all other relevant bodies.

  4. The Care Forum - Action plan to reduce smoking in pregnancy

    Report -

    The Care Forum was commissioned to deliver an engagement project by the BNSSG Clinical Commissioning Group. The brief was to recruit and engage with women who did not stop smoking during pregnancy, in order to discuss why this was

  5. Health problems more common in babies with older fathers

    News -

    A study of more than 40 million births in the US found babies born to men aged 45 or older were more likely to be born prematurely, have a low birth weight and need intensive care after birth than babies with younger fathers.

  6. Study shows a gap between pregnancies is beneficial

    News -

    The NHS say that women should leave at least year between pregnancies

  7. Having a baby and the effect on your mental health

    News -

    We want to hear about your experiences - whether having a baby had any effect on your mental health.

  8. Temporary closure of Cossham Birth Cenre

    News -

    Cossham Birth Centre temporary closure – letter from North Bristol Trust

  9. Discussion event on preventing cerebral palsy

    News -

    The Academic Health Science Network invite you to the following event: Wednesday 9th May 2018 from 11am - 2pm.

  10. Open letter shows progress in reopening health services ahead of winter

    News -

    An open letter outlining plans to get services back to their pre-pandemic levels but still ensure everyone’s safety has been released.

  11. "This is another scandal where it’s clear that lessons from past tragedies haven’t been learnt" - Healthwatch England's response to the Ockenden review

    News -

    Healthwatch England has responded to the Independent Review of Maternity Services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, led by Donna Ockenden. The review examined almost 1,600 clinical incidents and found repeated failures in care.

  12. 'The barriers to accessing timely care can put people’s lives at risk' - Healthwatch England's response to the Care Quality Commission's 'State of Care' report

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Their latest report sets out the challenges the NHS and social care sector face: 'the health and care system is gridlocked, unable to operate effectively.'

  13. Share your experience: maternal mental health

    News -

    Have you given birth since April 2020? Did you experience any mental health issues or emotional challenges such as low mood before getting pregnant? We'd like to hear your story and find out if you got the support you needed from the NHS.

  14. Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers, Healthwatch England warns

    News -

    Many women are struggling to access the support they need for their mental health during and after pregnancy. Only 1 in 5 were satisfied with the time their GP spent talking to them about their mental health at their six-week postnatal check.

  15. Continuity of care is crucial to addressing perinatal mental health

    News -

    Research shows that continuity of care - receiving care from the same midwife or team of midwives - is best practice in maternity care. But we spoke to new mothers whose experiences show that services don’t always implement it.

  16. Stories from new mothers: accessing maternal mental health services

    Blog -

    Mental health issues are widespread and of significant concern to new parents, but many face substantial difficulties accessing mental health services. Mothers from across the local area told us about their experiences.

  17. Annual Report 2022/2023

    Report -

    Last year, 793 people shared their experiences of health and social care services with us. Our annual report sets out how your comments and concerns have had a real impact on local health and social care services.

  18. Stories from new mothers: the importance of good communication

    Blog -

    The commitment to personalised care has been a cornerstone of NHS policy on maternity care for many years. A crucial part of personalised care is good communication, listening and agreeing on actions together.

  19. Our statement following the conviction of Lucy Letby

    News -

    Lucy Letby was found guilty on the 21st August 2023 of murdering seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016, while working as a nurse. She was also convicted of trying to kill six other infants.

  20. CQC again rates maternity services at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust as good

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report following an inspection of the maternity services at both Weston General Hospital and UHBW Bristol Main Site (St Michael’s Hospital), both run by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, in December.

  21. Report: Investigating local health inequalities using the Core20PLUS5 approach

    Report -

    102 people in Knowle West, Hartcliffe and Weston-super-Mare spoke to us about their experiences of health and social care. They shared the barriers and failures that prevented them from accessing local services, and what improvements are needed.

  22. Better access to adult community health services

    News -

    The NHS has confirmed Sirona Care & Health as the new provider of innovative adult community services in a new contract for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

  23. How the public would improve the NHS

    News -

    Read about what the public would do to make the NHS better over the next 10 years!

  24. NHS long term plan report

    Report -

    This is the executive summary of a report that contains the findings of an engagement project carried out by Local Healthwatch in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) during April and May 2019.

  25. Report on young people in North Somerset

    Report -

    At Healthwatch North Somerset, we listen to patient experiences and inform commissioners and providers about good practice and areas for service improvement.

  26. BNSSG Healthier Together - Healthy Weston Event

    Report -

    On Monday 4th December Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group – Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (BNSSG-CCG STP) held a public listening event at The Royal Hotel, Weston-super-Mare.

  27. Sustainability and Transformation Partnership

    News -

    Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG) Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) are running a series of consultation events to gather users views of the Health Care system in Weston-super-Mare.

  28. Hospital Transport Hub

    News -

    Opportunity to comment on Hospital Transport Hub plans

  29. NHS to trial technology

    News -

    NHS to trial tech to cut missed appointments and save up to £20 million

  30. Local Health Services in Weston

    News -

    New Information on Local Health Services in Weston

  31. NHS Trust braces for tough winter

    News -

    The coming winter is likely to be even more difficult than the last for trusts, staff and patients, warns a new report from NHS Providers.

  32. Suicide Prevention Grant

    News -

    Public Health North Somerset announce today the launch of the Suicide Prevention Grant

  33. The Locality Centre - Weston super mare

    News -

    Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group have announced an update regarding finding a new provider for The Locality Health Centre

  34. New state of care report from Care Quality Commission

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission has recently published its updated State of Care report.

  35. New online stroke recovery tool

    News -

    My Stroke Guide is a unique online recovery tool that has been developed in partnership with the Stroke Association and stroke survivors, their family members, carers and health professionals.

  36. Weston General Hospital Nurse recruitment event

    News -

    Inviting all registered and newly qualified nurses to a recruitment event at Weston General Hospital

  37. New Dementia nurse for Weston General Hospital

    News -

    New Specialist Dementia Nurse for North Somerset’s Weston General Hospital

  38. NHS choices re-branded simply as 'the NHS website'

    News -

    The NHS Choices name is to go as part of changes to the UK’s largest health website by NHS England and NHS Digital.

  39. Community Pharmacys

    News -

    The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence have published their recommendations on how a community pharmacy can promote health and wellbeing.

  40. Call Healthwatch to get support from NHS Responders

    News -

    If you are at home self-isolating and need a support lifeline you can now call our team to find the right type of help from the new army of NHS Responders.

  41. Kings fund report

    News -

    The Kings Fund have published their latest report entitled "Developing new models of care in the PACS Vanguards". It is a new national approach to large-scale change.

  42. Do you understand how NHS services are changing?

    News -

    Our country’s health and care services face big challenges. We are living longer, but a growing number of people need help with long-term health conditions, adding pressures to services.

  43. NHS England outlines future for congenital heart disease services

    News -

    NHS England has set out plans to implement exacting new standards that will ensure patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) receive the best possible care.

  44. Funding for learning disabilities

    News -

    People with learning disabilities in North Somerset are set to benefit from £213,000 of funding to help them live more independently in their own homes thanks to a successful bid by North Somerset Council.

  45. Coronavirus and domestic abuse

    News -

    Living with an abusive partner or family member is difficult at the best of times. But being stuck in the home together at a time of stress and uncertainty may be even more frightening than usual.

  46. District nursing services

    News -

    ‘The future will see far more care delivered locally’; this statement from the NHS five year forward view reaffirmed ambitions to move more care into community settings.

  47. Carers Trust Phoenix community outreach

    News -

    Carers Trust Phoenix have launched their first Community Outreach Centre at Our Lady of Lourdes Hall: 28 Baytree Road, Weston-super-Mare BS22 8HQ. They run respite care sessions there every Tuesday and Friday.

  48. Mobile support service for patients with drug and alcohol problems

    News -

    A NEW mobile support service for patients with alcohol or drug issues has been launched in North Somerset. Addaction’s Rachel Britton and Charlie Kirkby,will be working with staff at Weston hospital to ensure people get support

  49. Lung Cancer Service

    News -

    An NHS Challenge Prize winning lung cancer service is already making an even bigger difference to patients, and helping doctors all over England develop the same innovative techniques.

  50. Community Health Service contract

    News -

    North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group announces the preferred bidder for the community health services contract in this area